Category: Kaiser Health News

Democratic Convention, Night 4: ‘Facts Over Fiction’ in Biden’s Speech

The impact of the novel coronavirus, and the current administration’s response to it, were central themes in Joe Biden’s presidential nomination acceptance speech.

DeSantis Says COVID Is a Lower Risk for School-Aged Kids Than Flu

Although it is still early, available numbers provide backup.

California’s Data Failures Stymie Efforts to Curb the Virus

Counties say the ripple effects of the state’s COVID-19 data failures are impeding their ability to slow the spread of the coronavirus, even as they must make life-or-death decisions about business and school reopenings.

Deadly Mix: How Bars Are Fueling COVID-19 Outbreaks

In some states, bars and taverns have brought legal challenges to the coronavirus restrictions that have slowed sales and business.

Democratic Convention, Night 3: Making the Party Lines Clear

Sen. Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president amid strong arguments against Donald Trump.

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Democrats in Array (For Now)

In a highly produced, made-for-TV political convention, Democrats papered over their differences on a variety of issues, including health care, to show a unified front to defeat President Donald Trump in November. Meanwhile, COVID-19 continues to complicate efforts to get students back to school, and a federal judge blocks the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate anti-discrimination protections for transgender people. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Scam Alert: Things a COVID Contact Tracer Wouldn’t Say

Criminals are finding ways to reap gains under the guise of this public health intervention.

COVID Plans Put to Test as Firefighters Crowd Camps for Peak Wildfire Season

Thousands of firefighters from across the U.S. have converged on the West as the wildfire season enters its peak. The inherently dangerous job now carries the additional risk of COVID-19 transmission, and fire managers are adapting their plans for crowded fire camps in the hope of preventing outbreaks that could sideline crews and weaken the nation’s firefighting infrastructure.

We Put Off Planning, Until My Father-in-Law’s Medical Crisis Took Us by Surprise

Although the family patriarch did not face a life-threatening emergency, the episode was a reminder that you have to prepare for a real crisis.

Democratic Convention, Night 2: Defending the ACA and Attacking Trump on Pandemic

Democrats continued the virtual extravaganza. Health care was a hot topic.